Daily Reports

In this section we will create day-to-day reports with information about Hurricane Felix and the aftermath of this large disaster. Information is collected from different sources and presented as objective as possible.

Monday, September 24

Deputy Brooklin Rivera said during a presentation with new reports about the damage cause by Hurricane Felix that a total of US$292 million is needed for reconstruction of the RAAN area. He also said: “The effort of restructuring the communities does not mean going there and place roofs and walls, bring food, health efforts, and help with materials, it is not about that. The problem is much more complex. It is about reconstruction the social structure, environments, the cultures of our communities. It is about helping to reconstruct the life of the community.”

Seadman Fagoth, Director of the Nicaraguan Fishing Institute, mentioned that Felix destroyed 191 of the 200 sailing boats that were present in the region.

President Ortega indicated that from an environmental point of view Hurricane Felix can be classified as “the major catastrophe in the history of Nicaragua.” He also said that the death toll is enormous. “According to the population’s estimations, the number of deaths might exceed 300,” said the President. He explained that the official number of much lower (102) because not all deceased have been certificated. The other official statistics are as follows:

• 198,006 people affected
• 133 disappeared
• 20,394 houses affected
• 145 public offices damaged
• 57 churches detroyed
• 123,757 acres of plantation fields affected

Sunday, September 23

Alberto Bryan, vice-president of the captains and marines of Bilwi, said that there have some fifty vessels (sailboats, boats, kayaks, etc.) been lost due to Felix. However, the corvette captain and the Navy captain Julio César Zapata indicated that “the directorate of aquatic transportation who should have a register of how many vessels there are in every community and how many were lost. Until now the people have came only to report the five vessels which we knew about because they asked for permission to set sail in the days before the hurricane.”

La Prensa reported about the situation in Tasba Pri, where dwellers, with cooperation of organizations like the Civil Coordinator and the United Fireman without Borders, have started to clean the fallen trees and wooden parts that are found around their houses. There are also medics who attend the injured people.

Saturday, September 22

Vía Adilia Lino Macario traveled from Musawás, the community where she lives, located within the territory of the Bosawás Biosphere Reserve to Managua to alert the authorities about the hunger that suffer the 16 communities within the Mayanga Sauni As territory. She told the El Nuevo Diario newspaper that the water level in the rivers rose due to the rain caused by Felix, which caused rice, cassava, plantain, and banana cultivations to be lost. Lack of water is also a problem: “Before Felix we drank water from the rivers, but these rivers are now contaminated, and in some cases – although the water appears to be clean – the trees that have fallen into the rivers have contaminated them, in a form that in addition to intoxicating our children we also have cases of skin allergies. Wee need water, please.” Sinapred promised her to send 20 tons of foodstuffs.

La Prensa reported that “every day there are more people who protest and accuse the government of being culpable for the fact that Hurricane Felix left so many people dead in the RAAN.” According to Oscar Hodgson, legal representative of the Council of Elders, the State has neglected the RAAN. “President Daniel Ortega came here to say that Seadman Fagoth had come to alert the population, but this is not true, just as it is not true that the people did not want to leave the Cays, the place most strongly hit by the hurricane. (…) The people were eager to leave and get refugee, but there was no good communication. How were they going to evacuate three thousand people with two or three boats, if the voyage to the Cays takes two hours, and mostly if the alert has been declared late?” He also said that the Council of Elders sent a letter in which they explained their complaints to General Hallesleven and to President Ortega and also an international message to the Organizations of the United Nations.

Friday, September 21

The deputies who visited Puerto Cabezas have different opinions about the complaints that hundreds of people affected by Felix presented. The liberal deputy Enrique Quiñónez said the complaints were legitimate but according to the Sandinista deputy José Antonio Martínez they are a form of political manipulation.

The complaints from the indigenous people where that aid is not offered to people who do not show identification, that one has to work in order to receive aid, that part of the donated basic commodities are being sold on the market, that the government warned very late and not offered support to evacuate people that were out fishing. They also said that the captain of the boat “Miss Julie” asked for help to the port captain to help shipwreck victims, but it took 30 hours for the help to arrive, when it was already very late.

In a letter presented to the Permanent Commission for Human Rights the government was said to be responsible “for having denied protection and leaving the zone abandoned before and after the arrival of the hurricane”, sustaining that “the Miskito Cays were not evacuated or even warned with enough anticipation for the fishermen to return, let along the indigenous communities.” The writers consider that this “governmental passiveness is a shame", as stated in the international denouncement by Miskito leaders against President Daniel Ortega for crimes against humanity.

A team of lawyers from the Permanent Commission for Human Rights will travel to the affected zone to investigate the denouncement and to determine the grade of responsibility of the government. Furthermore, Quiñónez proposed that a special commission from the National Assembly will give follow-up to the situation in the RAAN, but Reynaldo Francis, RAAN Governor, refused this proposal.

Thursday, September 20

In Puerto Cabezas, hundreds of people protested against a group of ten deputies visiting the city to get informed about the post-Felix situation. One of the representatives said that “we want there to be justice with the distribution of the international aid for the hurricane victims. (…) We ask that the beans, rice, baking oil, milk, and water arrive at Puerto Cabezas and at the communities of the Northern Caribbean, because this is not arriving.”

According to the mayor of Waspam, where the hurricane left 15,372 people with damage, 855 houses being destroyed, and more than 15,000 hectares of rice and cassava being tore down, not enough aid is arriving to this municipality. He said that after Hurricane Felix passed only once aid from the government was received. “There are many people who have not eaten for eight days. The children experience hunger,” he said.

Oxfam International considers that the hunger forms a threat to the RAAN population. Martha Lorena Mora, coordinator of the humanitarian team of the NGO estimates that “in a couple months we have a large food shortage (because) the people have not only lost their crops, but also the seeds that they would use for the next harvest. They have lost their basic sustainability. (….) [The hurricane] destroyed the economic base for approximately 180,000 people (…) Furthermore, the first estimations indicate that 3,000 km2 of tropical rainforest has been destroyed, which threatens the main source of water supply for the population. (…) It is calculated that the area that was devastated is larger than the surface of El Salvador.

Wednesday, September 19

In a press conference Elizabeth Enríquez, mayor of Puerto Cabezas, complained that Sinapred is managing by centralized means all funds destined for the reconstruction of the RAAN. However, Reynaldo Francis, governor of the RAAN, denied this, sustaining that Sinapred will transfer all funds to the affected region.

According to a recount realized by the communities located along the shore – without including the municipality of Waspán and the Miskito Cays – Hurricane Felix caused 146 deaths and left 280 children orphan. These numbers differ from the official numbers that the government announced, reporting 102 deaths in all of the affected region.

The authorities in the RAAN are warning the communities about the current risk of their custom to burn down parcels for agricultural purposes. Brooklin Rivera, deputy of the RAAN, said that “we have more than 400,000 hectares of forest that is fallen down, which is burnable material, and the fires should be prevented to prevent forest fires.”

Maritza Cuan, Minister of Health, declared that, despite the increase of diarrhea cases and respiratory problems in several RAAN communities, an epidemic outbreak is not the case.

Miguel De Castilla, Minister of Education, noted that the process of restarting classes will be slow and costly, but the target is to finish this on the October 1.

Tuesday, September 18

Fishing activities in Puerto Cabezas started again, but as the RAAN governor, Reynaldo Francis, said, “not a single boat can leave without carrying lifebelts for every passenger.” It is estimated that if everybody who was on sea when Felix hit would have been wearing life vests, there would have been less victims. Fishing in the area of the Miskito Cays remains prohibited until the Fishery Institute finishes a study about the environmental and ecological damage provoked by Hurricane Felix.

Monday, September 17

In an interview with El Nuevo Diario the social analyst and director of IPADE, Mauricio Zúñiga, sustained that the disaster caused by Felix is an opportunity to make the development of the Caribbean Coast a national priority. “The zone has been historically forgotten by the political class of this country. With the hurricane, besides the obligated reconstruction work, the government should notice the opportunity to change the state of poverty that has characterized this zone, which, although we all know about it, was now uncovered and in the open in its worst state with the hurricane. (…) When I say that it should be an opportunity I talk about an opportunity to put the Caribbean Coast on the agenda of the new government; I mean that generally the attention to disasters causes focus on alleviating the first effects of the disaster without thinking about the future, i.e. bread today, hunger tomorrow.”

The budget reform that was proposed last Thursday by Ortega has been approved by the National Assembly. This reform includes extra money being available for support in the RAAN area.

The Bolivian Alternative for Latin America and the Caribbean (ALBA) approved a donation of US$5 million to construct houses, schools, and roads in the zone that was affected by Felix.

Classes in some schools in Puerto Cabezas started again. Jessica Rocha from the Ministry of Education said that “our preoccupation as teachers is that the scholar year is about to end and this interruption was not foreseen, which is why we now have to treat the children differently in order to have them thinking about other things and not being remembered about the fateful events.”

The architect and constructor Alfredo Osorio Peters mentioned that the damage and the deaths caused by the hurricane can be reduced with a small investment. He recommends using more nails in all houses, tying up the roofs to the houses and not using clay tiles, which will make houses able to sustain hurricanes as strong as Felix.

Sunday, September 16

The Nicaraguan Fishing Institute started a study about how to save the Miskito Cays. However, Reynaldo Francis, governor of the RAAN, said that there is also a possibility to convert the Cays in a sanctuary.

A group of 250 women working in the Miskito Cays met with the deputy Brooklyn Rivera in the Governmental House to ask for economic support in order to return to the Cays to work and reconstruct. They declared that they do not ask for donations but instead for low-interest, long-term loans. The majority of the women who worked at the Cays are single mothers and some of them lost close relatives due to Felix. Although the government is willing to help, returning to the Cays is – at least for the moment – very difficult due to the destroyed ecosystem. The women also asked companies they own money to, to be lenient on their debts by providing them more time. They insisted not to be warned on time. “It is a large lie what they say (the government); we were notified on Monday at 10 in the morning by radio, and at that time there was no time to leave,” said one of the women.

In a interview with the La Prensa newspaper, Alta Hooker, principal at the University of the Autonomous Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua (URACCAN), sustained that there should be more participation of locals in the reconstruction efforts.

An army convoy arrived at Tasba Pri via land. They will try to help the communities that have been cut off from the outside world due to fallen trees along the road.

Saturday, September 15

Several fishing companies have decided not to purchase fish from the affected region, arguing that this can be contaminated. On the other hand diving activities have been suspended until further notice. For these reasons, the fishing industry – the main economic driver of the local economy – has been paralyzed.

The Lafise-Bancentro banking institution presented a plan to reactive the RAAN area, creating a fund of C$134 million that would be offered in the form of accessible credits to construct agricultural areas and housing.

César Augusto Tejada, a lobster collector from the Diamond Spot Cay confirmed that the official preliminary numbers are much lower than the real numbers, due to the fact that there were 1,000 people in the Miskito Cays on the day of the hurricane who were warned very late. He said that the Navy warned them Monday morning, when many people had already left to work and who returned when there was not enough time left to leave.

The General Julio César Avilés reported that “there most important job of the Nicaraguan Army right now is to continue its aerial, naval, and terrestrial search, save, and rescue expeditions. We are realizing aerial transportation of humanitarian supplies for all communities and we are enforcing security on terrestrial roads, helping the special teams that evaluate the damage. We are also recognizing the Bosawas reserve, working together with the team that is evaluating the environmental impact.” He also expressed that “the severe agricultural damage should be pointed out, as there are thousands of acres affected. It is important to state the severe damage to the forest and the ecosystem. This region encompassed the Bosawas Reserve, which includes around 20,000 square kilometers.”

The Ministry of Health (Minsa) is working to prevent epidemic outbreaks in the zone affected by Felix. Guillermo González, Vice-Minister of Health, stated that “the most important action that has been taken regarding the anti-epidemic efforts include visiting 11,000 houses and 3,520 houses have been fumigated to prevent malaria problems.”

Friday, September 14

Eddy McDonald Fúnez, who was Emergency Director of Sahsa until yesterday, states that there are 15 communities in the Tasba Pri sector that have not yet received any type of help due to the obstructed roads and the fact that the army, despite promises, has not yet visited the area by helicopter. Based on the reports by people who achieved to leave this area the fear exists that there are many deaths due to hunger and the lack of protection against the outside climate, thirst, or sickness that can not be rapidly treated.

According to official preliminary numbers Felix has caused 102 deaths and 86 missing, leaving behind 10,000 completely destroyed houses and affecting 9,000 others. However, while presenting the fourth official report on Hurricane Felix, President Ortega said that “the damage has been terrible and we do not yet know the exact dimension of the losses in all areas.” He therefore asked international organizations for support to determine the exact losses of human lives, material damage, forest habitat, and communication lines due to Felix. He also said that donations like toys and clothing will not be sent to the affected region anymore now that first aid is more urgent. In around six months reconstruction will begin.

The United Nations called upon the international community for US$22.8 million dollars for immediate support and US$16.3 million for recuperation during the first six months. John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator from the UN said that there are “a lot of necessities. It could not have happened at a worse place, in one of the poorest and most remote parts of the country, which makes support distribution more difficult.”

To reestablish the scholar system in the affected region several support measures are taken to reconstruct the houses of the teachers. “We are preparing food packages for these teachers and we are furthermore preparing some 10 zinc plates for the teachers’ houses,” said Miguel De Castilla, Minister of Education, who also stated that there are 1,528 teachers who have their houses damaged.

The brigade of three medics who were sent to the affected region achieved to identify only 23 of the Felix victims. The distance of the affected area and limited resources were the main obstacles.

Thursday, September 13

Daniel Ortega, President of Nicaragua, sent a budget reform proposal to the National Assembly. The proposal will be discussed on Monday in the Assembly and it includes additional funds of C$ 215.6 million córdoba for support for the RAAN area. If the budget reform is accepted the funds will be districbuted among the National System of Attention, Prevention, and Mitigation of Disasters (US$5.3 million), the Ministry of Education (US$2.9 million), the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (US$1.9 million) and the Fund for Social Investment and Emergency (US$539,783).

Cora Antonio, the superintendent of the Morava Church in Nicaragua, sustained upheld the statement that there are many deaths due to the lack of information. In an interview with the newspaper El Nuevo Diario he states: “When the hurricane hit I noticed we were not prepared. More than 70% of the communities did not expect that the hurricane would hit in this way. Many people told me that they heard about the yellow alert on the radio, and until night this was upgraded to a red alert, which meant that a large part of the population was not informed, which is confirmed by the fact that there are many deaths.” He also explained that the missing friends and family members was very painful for the Miskito people, as “in Miskito culture burying of the dead is an act that provides satisfaction, but not knowing where people are is an infinite tragedy.”

Although the exact numbers are not yet known, the “telehablatón” that was organized on TV yesterday to raise funds and other support was said by the organizers to have been successful. However, they have not yet agreed upon a way to donate what was collected. José Adán Aguerri, director of Cosep, said that “(…) what we want is that through different ways including the private sector and the society we achieve to set up construction projects in which we at the end give the finished dwelling to the people. Obviously, the Chamber of Construction plays an important role, and from here we will be setting up communication with different institutions that we feel can help us best in speeding up the process.” Mario Quintana from the Civil Coordinator said that “(..) in general terms we have agreed that we should use the official means from Sinapred to achieve the mobilization of all these products, but there are also ideas to directly purchase products and take them straight to the communities where support has not yet arrived.”

The Environment and Natural Resources Ministry (MARENA) has initiated the Plan for Evaluation of Environmental Damage in the RAAN. The first conclusions were that the vegetation and the soil have been “severely damaged”, and the flora and fauna “significantly damaged”, just as the damage in the area of hydrology, hydrogeology, landscape, security, and hygiene. There appears to be so much forest damage that the Biological Mesoamerican Corridor is interrupted. The Miskito Cays Biological Reserve has disappeared, leaving behind only burned-down trees. In the future even more problems might arise, as it will be difficult to harvest and there are risks of fires and epidemic outbreaks.

Wednesday, September 12

The Columbian Navy informed that there are Hurricane survivors from the Miskito Cays found in the Roncador and Quitasueño Cays, located in the zone of the San Andrés island (which is claimed by both Nicaragua and Columbia). If the brigade of the Nicaraguan Navy confirms this fact then the number of missing people will decrease. Currently, there are 110 people missing. This number is an estimation, due to the fact that there was no register of who arrived and left the Cays. The official death toll rose from 67 to 101 as 21 Nicaraguan corpses were found in Honduran waters on Tuesday and 13 more in the remote northeast region of Nicaragua.

The authorities from the RAAN sent brigades with saws and machetes to clean the roads that were closed due to falling trees, in order to be able to rescue the hundreds of people that are trapped within the forests.

Mexico sent military medics to the RAAN. Support of this kind is very welcome, as many people suffer medical problems. Every day there are some 64 cases of diarrhea and 193 people with respiratory problems and in the Maniwaatlan region two kids died as a result of diarrhea.

The 'telehablatón' was held, which consisted of a tv show to collect money, foodstuffs, clothing, shoes, water, hygiene products, and medicines for the affected people. It was also reported that the Chamber of Small Scale Commerce from Miami will send support and that the UN will continue with its support operations.

The inexistence of a good road connection between the RAAN and the Pacific makes sending support via land difficult. Claudia Obregón, spokeswoman for the Nicaraguan Chamber of Tourism (CANTUR) expressed that this could also be an opportunity to unite the Atlantic Coast with the rest of the country, now that the importance of such a road is demonstrated.

However, at this moment such a highway does not exist and the donations are therefore generally sent via air. There is currently so much air traffic between the RAAN and Managua that the Airforce talks about the most significant air connection that Nicaragua has ever had. According to information from the Army, in the first six days after the hurricane there was almost a million pounds in cargo transported. Sinapred therefore insists that the hunger no results from lack of food, but instead from lack of good transportation to the more remote zones. This does not mean that it is not necessary anymore to send food. Sinapred urgest mostly foodstuffs, purified (preferably bottled) water, medicines (that have not yet expired), black plastic, water filters, and chain saws. Embassadors from the United States and Spain also asked for the support to continue.

Tuesday, September 11

UNICEF asked for a little over US$2 million to ensure the most urgent necessaties for children in the affected area are assured until December.

The governor of the RAAN, Reynaldo Watson, met with the Honduran mayor from Vieda Morales, Walter Kait, who confirmed that there are 23 bodies, most likely Nicaraguans, who were buried in Honduras.

A team of the El Nuevo Diario newspaper visited the Miskito Cays and reported that "everything has been whiped by Hurricane Felix" and that "the pillars of the houses, the military base, and a recently constructed hotel are the only things left standing."

Although the official reports only registered 16 deaths in Tasba Pri, the real number is feared to be much higher as community leaders mention 76 deaths, 277 missing, and 115 people injured. According to official preliminary numbers on 6 AM there are in total 162,373 people, 136 people rescued, 67 deaths, and 110 missing.

There is also a lot of ecological damage. Raomir Manzaneres, secretary of MARENA, confirmed that few forest coverage is left in the RAAN. The Miskito Cays Biological Reserve, the Bosawas Biosphere, and the Natural Reserves of Limbaika, Cola Blanca, and Santa Cruz as well as Saslaya were damaged by the hurricane.

In the Sourthern Atonomous Atlantic Region (RAAS) the authorities declared 15 days of grievance for the Felix victims, which meant that the commemorative acts on September 14 and 15 (anniversaries of the San Jacinto Battle and the Central American Independence) were suspended.

Monday, September 10

In Puerto Cabezas most water, electricity, and telephone services are restored, but in the rest of the affected zone these services remain unavailable. Several sources inform that the most urgent necessities for the population include rice, beans, baking oil, platico, negro, and tin panels. The government even asked that no more clothes were donated, but instead medicines and foodstuffs. The support initiatives continue to be intensive. The UN discusses the necessary funds that Nicaragua needs for the reconstruction, Oxfam International notifies that it will help over 30 thousand of the people affected, and Spain, Guatemala, Norway, and the IDB announce their support. Furthermore, through a reform of the national budget the Nicaraguan government tries to free 200 million córdoba to help the hurricane victims. However, the efficiency of the support efforts is limited due to the lack of transportation methods, which make that at least 27 indigenous communities – some 30 thousand people – have not received any form of support yet.

Sunday, September 9

Rescue efforts continue on this day but so far, there has not yet been a complete evaluation of the damage and victims of Hurricane Felix. Many bodies disappeared in the ocean and will therefore never be accounted for. It is not exactly known how many there are but it is assumed that there are many corpses missing, possibly hundreds. Reynaldo Francis, governor of the RAAN, expressed that “it will be difficult, but the people will have to accept it.”

A benefit concert is held in Managua, with large quantities of food, clothes, shoes, medicine, and potable water being collected. Help is still arriving at the affected area but it is not enough to attend to all the necessities. William Hart, representative of the World Food Program notes that US$16 million is required to purchase 9 thousand tons of food to supply all of the affected population. The major problem is potable water which does not reach the region and therefore obligates a large part of the population to drink contaminated water.

President Daniel Ortega declares three days of national grievance for the victims.

Saturday, September 8

Some 38 Miskitos from the Miskito Cays and Sandy Bay that were rescued from Honduran waters after struggling in the sea for three days holding on to wooden debris are transported back to Bilwi.

The search for corpses in the sea continues in the surroundings of the Miskito Cays, Mara, Diamond Spot, Witis, and Wiplin, but rescuers fight against the time. After 6-7 days floating in the water the bodies explode and are eaten by animals.

Electricity, telephone, and potable water services are not yet re-established in the RAAN, the road network continues to be hampered, and rivers are still flooded, making access only possible by sea or air. In some remote regions no help has arrived whatsoever. The government therefore asks for urgent air traffic support, boats, and rescue equipment to continue the humanitarian help efforts.

The health office authorities intensify cleaning activities in the RAAN to prevent epidemic outbreaks. Despite all the efforts reports come in that Krukira, a community some 30 kilometers from Bilwi, was hit by an outbreak of diarrhea. Cause of this outbreak is the lack of potable water that forced people to start drinking contaminated water.

Friday, September 7

The search for survivors and dead bodies due to Hurricane Felix intensifies. A military source announces that from two helicopters that were surveying the zone many bodies were seen floating in the ocean. El Nuevo Diario reports that "hundreds of families spend day and night at the old wharf of Bilwi, awaiting the returning brigades that might bring back their disappeared family members, either alive or dead." A representative of the UN estimates that the number of people affected by the hurricane reaches 100,000 individuals.

Spain, El Salvador, Canada, and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration announce support programs, and Venezuela, the UN, and the US intensify their support, but the human tragedy worsens. Many communities continue in their isolation and epedemic outbreaks might occur due to the advanced state of decomposing corpses.Furthermore, the governor of the RAAN, Reynaldo Francis, announces that there is little food, medicines, and water left in supply.

Thursday, September 6

Many bodies are found on sea, 30 of them in the Miskito Cays and 40 in Honduran waters, which make the total death toll rise to over 100. Some bodies are taken to the wharf at Bilwi where survivors await the returning boats to see if they contain the bodies of their missing family members or friends. Some corpses are in advanced state of decomposition and have to be incinerated. There are also survivors found on sea but many of them are in bad shape. Out of the 52 passengers of a boat that was found in the Boga Cay in Honduras 30 could not even give their own name.

The situation in the RAAN is chaotic due to lack of food and medicine, due to the collapse of an improvised hospital and due to fatigue of the medical teams. President Ortega says that the situation is “much worse that thought (…) there are many victims, many deaths.” The United Nations representative in Managua, Alfredo Missair, reports that Nicaragua requires US$26 million to face the damage caused by Hurricane Felix. The European Commission promises to provide humanitarian support for the amount of € 1 million, including systems for potable water distribution, provisional refuges, medicine, food, and other products that are necessitated. Venezuela also helps out, sending non-onhoudbaar foodstuffs, clothing, medicines, a multi-purpose vehicle, and a rescue team of 20 members. Japan informs that it will send support of almost US$100,000 and support is also received from Honduras, the UN, other international organizations, as well as national organisms and individuals.

Wednesday, September 5

Evaluation teams achieve reaching the communities that were inaccessible the day before and according preliminary observations there are up to 38 deaths, 166 people missing, over 40,000 people affected and 15,809 people moved from their home. Reports are coming in about four people who died close to the Miskito Cays when their boat sank due to the high waves when they were on their way to Bilwi. Furthermore, reports come in that Sandy Bay has been completely destroyed, and damage has reached as far as the department of Matagalpa. Colonel Ricardo Sánchez informs that at least 220 families Matagalpa were affected by Hurricane Felix.

The Nicaraguan government sends 300 police officers to the RAAN to help out with emergency efforts and the government furthermore reports having spent so far 3 million córdoba for the hurricane victims. The World Food Program officially hands over 4.5 tons of food to the government, consisting of rice, beans, and fortified cereal to feed 890 people during 10 days. Venezuela promises to send a plane with humanitarian support to the affected region, and the United States informs that it has sent a ship to help with the recovery efforts and a helicopter for transportation, now that transportation over land is impossible due to the significant road damage.

The hurricane is already on Honduran soil and continues to lower in intensity, converting into a low-pressure system.

Tuesday, September 4

The hurricane makes landfall in the northeastern corner of Nicaragua at 5.15 AM local time, close to Barra Sandy Bay, located some 55 kilometers north of the city of Bilwi (also known as Puerto Cabezas), the principal city of the northern Caribbean coast. The yellow alert is also announced in the RAAS area and in the RAAN, where damage is worst, red alert is announced. The winds, blowing at a speed of over 260 kilometers per hour, unroot trees, damage houses, electricity posts, and roofs including the roof of a hospital and several churches that were used as refuges. Unofficial reports mention the first deaths but there is little certainty about the exact situation as the electricity and communication systems fail throughout the region. “For the moment we are waiting”, reports the director of the Disaster Prevention System, Ramón Ernesto Soza. “We have evacuated thousands of people and thousands of others have evacuated themselves, and we hope that there are not many human losses, although it is already clear that there is a lot of damage.” Reynaldo Francis Watson, governor of the RAAN, makes a first evaluation of the damage of Bilwi, observing that “the situation is very bad, there are houses without roofs, churches and schools are destroyed, and trees and electricity posts are fallen on buildings.” It is furthermore expected that there is a lot of damage in the indigenous communities located along the Coco River, but with this zone being cut off from communication there is no information yet about the situation in this areas. In the afternoon the Emergency Operations Center (Centro de Operaciones de Emergencia) of the army gives the first preliminary information, reporting 1,200 houses destroyed in Puerto Cabezas, 3,500 in Sandy Bay, 180 in Krukira, and 125 in Tuapí. Furthermore, some 35,035 people are affected, 11 are injured, and 4 deaths are reported.

President Daniel Ortega meets with various commissions in charge of assistance and support to the inhabitants, and he declares the state of disaster in the RAAN, asking for international help. Cuban medics that were located in the region are already helping out and the World Food Program makes a donation of 70 tons of food that was stored in Puerto Cabezas and Waspán. However, as François Duboc, representative of the support service from the European Commission, reports, the arrival of support to the affected zone is difficult due to “strong access problems”.

During this day, Felix moves towards Honduras. Being above land the hurricane loses the water that is feeding it and loses power. At 12.00 local time the hurricane is downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane, but it is still producing 100 kp/h winds and torrential rains, and therefore the risk of floods and landslides continues.

Monday, September 3

Around noon, local time, the eye of Hurricane Felix – a category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale – is located 500 kilometers offshore from Cabo Gracias a Dios, moving at a speed of 33 kilometers per hour in western direction. Winds are blowing at 230 kilometers per hour. The hurricane is expected to continue its path and make landfall close to the Nicaraguan and Honduran border in the morning of the following day, producing strong waves and possibly causing floods and landslides. Sinapred therefore declares yellow alert in the RAAN region and green alert in the rest of the country. Several preventive measures are taking, including the mobilization of 570 militaries from the army of the zone and the evacuation of 10 thousand people to safer places, among which are 800 people from the Miskito Cays.

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